Kashibai
| Kashibai | |
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Bajirao I |
| Children |
Balaji Baji Rao Ramchandra Raghunath Rao Janardan Rao |
| Parent(s) | Mahadji Krishna Joshi Shiubai |
Kashibai was the first wife of Bajirao I, who is acknowledged as the most influential of the nine Peshwas from the Bhat family, a general and prime minister to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahuji Raje Bhonsle of present-day India.
Kashibai was a daughter of Mahadji Krishna Joshi and Shiubai of Chas, belonging to a wealthy banker family. She also had a brother named Krishnarao Chaskar. She was married to Bajirao on 11 March 1720 in a household ceremony at Saswad.
Kashibai and Bajirao had four sons together. Balaji Baji Rao aka Nanasaheb, was born in 1721 and was later appointed Peshwa by Shahu in 1740 after Bajirao's death. Second son Ramchandra died young. Third son Raghunath Rao served as the Peshwa during 1773–1774 and fourth son Janardan also died young. She suffered from a type of arthritis.
Bajirao married Mastani, the daughter of Hindu king Chhatrasal of Bundelkhand and his wife Ruhaani Bai, a Persian Muslim. This marriage was not accepted by the Peshwa family. Kashibai is also noted to have not played any role in the household war waged by the Peshwa family against Mastani. Historian Pandurang Balkawade notes that various historical documents suggest that she was ready to accept Mastani as Bajirao's second wife, but could not do so going against her mother-in-law Radhabai and brother-in-law Chimaji Appa. Like many women of 18th century orthodox India, she had no say in important matters.
As the Brahmins of Pune boycotted the Peshwa family due to Bajirao's relations with Mastani, Chimaji Appa and Balaji Baji Rao aka Nanasaheb resolved to forceful separation of Bajirao and Mastani in early 1740. While Bajirao was out of Pune on expedition, Mastani was put under house arrest. Seeing deteriorating health of Bajirao, Chimaji asked Nanasaheb to release Mastani and send her to meet Bajirao. Nanasaheb instead sent his mother Kashibai. Kashibai is said to have served him on his deathbed as a "loyal and dutiful wife" and has been described as highly devoted to her husband. She and her son Janardan performed the last rites.
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